Electric switch

ABSTRACT

An electric switch having an elongate housing with a base plate on one side and a strip key on an opposite side, the key being connected to an operating element. When the key is moved towards the base plate the operating element is moved along the axis of the housing to operate a button switch.

United States Patent [191 Leuenberger Dec. 24, 1974 ELECTRIC SWITCH [56]References Cited [75] Inventor: Gottfried Leuenberger, Schlieren, UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Y Switzerland 7 2,485,340 10 1949 Warmey 200 153 T l 72Z' l 2 W31 Asegnw Peerhwenberger, zurcherstrasset 1323,53] Z1373YL$Z;TTT?TT.?? 288157 2 X Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 PrimaryExaminer-Ge0rge Harris [211 pp NO; 337,819 Attorney, Agent, orfirm-Markva & Smith 57 ABSTRACT [30] Fore'gn Apphc atln Pnomy Data Anelectric switch having an elongate housing with a Mar. 8, 1972Switzerland 3491/72 base plate on one Side and a Strip key on anOpposite side, the key being connected to an operating element. [52] CL200/153 200/153 200/159 R When the key is moved towards the base platethe op- [51] Int. Cl. HOlh 3/00 Hating element is moved along the axisof the housing [58] Field of Search 200/153 H, 153 T, 172 A, to operatea button Switch 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC SWITCH BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to anelectric switch.

2. Description of the Prior Art The known electric switches of smalldimensions operable by press knobs or rockers are not easy to find withthe hand in darkness, which isnoticeable in a disadvantageous mannerespecially in the case of bedside lamps. Likewise the switch operationmust be effected with the finger tips, which is possible only if atleast one hand is free.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the'object of the present invention toeliminate this disadvantage in a manner in which the press key has anextra-ordinarily large key area which permits the force-engagingtransmission of the operating movement to the electric press switchelement, at any point in the region of its length.

For this purpose according to this invention in a housing of bar formthere is arranged an upwardly and downwardly movable key of strip formwhich protrudes partially from the housing and extends approximatelyover the length of the housing, and in working connec- BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWING An example of a form of embodiment of the object of theinvention'is illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 showsa vertical partial longitudinal section through the switchin the basic position,

FIG. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section through the switch with thekey depressed;

FIG. 3 shows a horizontal partial longitudinal section along the lineIII-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the switch along the line IV.IV inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the switch on a smaller scale; and

FIG. 6 shows a lateral view of the switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The switch constructedaccordingto FIGS. 1 to 4 for placing on a table has a housing 1 of bar form whichis closed off on its under side by a bottom plate 2 serving as standingsurface. This plate is secured by means of screws 3 to counter-sunkcorner projections 4 of the housing. The cover of the housing 1 isprovided with a longitudinal slot 5 in which a press key 6 of strip formis guided. On the bottom plate 2 there are seated 'two verticallongitudinal bearing pieces 7, 7' which serve as a horizontal spindle 9and 9' respectively which extend transversely of the key 6. On each ofthese spindles there is rotatably mounted a rotating member 10, 10'respectively acting as bell-crank lever. The lever arm 11, which swingsabout the horizontal middle position of each of the two rotating members10 and 10' is articulatedly connected by spindle journals 12 with thepress key 6, and the lever arm 13, which swings about the verticalmiddle position, of each of the two rotating members 10, 10' isarticulatedly connected by joint journals 14 with an operating rod 15extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1, which rod isguided between the bearing pieces 7, 7' and the rotating members 10,,10'. The foot-shaped end 15 of the operating rod 15 is cranked offtowards the axis of the contact button 16 of a conventional press switch17 which is clamped in between the prongs of a retaining fork 18 seatedon the bottom plate 2 of the housing 1. Two cutaway portions 19, 19' ofthe press key 6 permit unhindered movement of the latter in relation tothe projections 8, 8 and thespindle journals 14 which protrude slightlyinto the cutaway portions.

By pressing in of the key 6 in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 1,the rotating members 10, 10' are rotated in the counterclockwisedirection into the position according to FIG. 2 and thus the operatingrod 15 is moved in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 1. By thismovement of the operating rod 15 the contact button 16 of theconventional button switch 17 is operated against the action of thespring installed in this switch. By release of the press key 6 theoperating rod 15 is brought into the initial position by the springaction of the contact button, 16 and at the same time by pivoting of therotating members 10, 10' the press key 6 is raised into its basicposition according to FIG. 1.

When the switch is used for wall lamps its housing 1 is provided with asecuring plate 20 screwed fast to the housing bottom plate 2, whichplate facilitates the sesliding guide for the press key 6. Thelongitudinal bearing pieces 7, 7', in the region of bearing projections8,

8", protruding laterally from them, are pierced each by curing of theswitch on a wall by means of screws. When the switch is secured to awall,'operation of the press key 6 is possible with the upper body, forexample with the shoulder or the upper arm, sothat switching operationscan be effected by a person whose hands are not free. It is essentialthat the press key 6 is operable over the whole range of its lengthwithout a directed operating movement.

The switch as described is of course suitable also for pedal operation,especially where the immediate find ing of small switch knobs isdifficult.

Whether the press key 6 is depressed at the one or the other end, thecorrect switching operation is 'ensured by virture of its verticalguidance and the cooperation of the rotating members 10, 10 and theoperating rod 15. It is important that an ordinary commercial pressbutton switch 17 can be used, which has a favou-,

partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downwardmovement within the housing,

c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing,

e. an operating rod being displaceable beside and extending in thelongitudinaldirection of the press key, and

f. at least two rotatable members having spindles and acting asbell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports andarticulatedly connected to the operating rod,

g. said key being effective to rotate said rotatable membersfor'displacing the operating rod in a longitudinal direction therebyoperating the press switch,

h. said stationary supports having laterally protruding bearingprojections for'supporting said spindles,

i. said key having cutaway portions which bridge over the laterallyprotruding bearing projections.

2. An electric switch comprising:

a. a housinghaving a bar form with support projections extendinginwardly,

b. a press key having a strip form for upward and downward movementwithin the housing,

c. said press key extending approximately over the length of thehousing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing, and

e. an operating element movable connected to the key by articulationjournals to operate the press switch when the press key is depresseddownwardly in said housing,

f. said press key having cutaway portions into which the supportprojections andarticulation journals partially proturde.

3. An electric switch comprising:

a. a housing having a bar form with stationary supports extendinginwardly,

b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from thehousing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within thehousing,

c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing,

e; an operating rod being disposed beside the key for displaceablemovement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and

f. at least two rotating members acting as bell-crank levers beingmounted on the stationary supports,

g. each rotating member carries two spindle journals that are parallelwith respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member,

h. each rotating member including a first lever arm articulatedlyconnected by one of the spindle journals to the press key for swingingabout a horizontal middle position and a second lever arm articulatedlyconnected to the operating rod for swinging about a vertical middleposition.

4. An electric switch comprising:

a. a housing having a bar form,

b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from thehousing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within thehousing,

c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing,

d. a press switch mounted in the housing,

e. an operating rod being disposed beside the press key for displaceablemovement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and 1 f. rotatingmembers acting as bell-crank levers mounted in the housing to convertthe movement of the press key into a movement direction of the operatingrod tranverse thereto.

5. An electric switch comprising:

a. a partially exposed press key means mounted for upward and downwardmovement within a housing,

b. a press switch mounted within the housing,

c. a switch operating means displaceably mounted within the housing tooperate the press switch, and

7. An electric switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the press key meansincludes an elongated strip form element extending along the length ofthe housing.

1. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form with stationary supports extending inwardly, b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, e. an operating rod being displaceable beside and extending in the longitudinal direction of the press key, and f. at least two rotatable members having spindles and acting as bell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports and articulatedly connected to the operating rod, g. said key being effective to rotate said rotatable members for displacing the operating rod in a longitudinal direction thereby operating the press switch, h. said stationary supports having laterally protruding bearing projections for supporting said spindles, i. said key having cutaway portions which bridge oveR the laterally protruding bearing projections.
 2. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form with support projections extending inwardly, b. a press key having a strip form for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said press key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, and e. an operating element movable connected to the key by articulation journals to operate the press switch when the press key is depressed downwardly in said housing, f. said press key having cutaway portions into which the support projections and articulation journals partially proturde.
 3. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form with stationary supports extending inwardly, b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, e. an operating rod being disposed beside the key for displaceable movement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and f. at least two rotating members acting as bell-crank levers being mounted on the stationary supports, g. each rotating member carries two spindle journals that are parallel with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating member, h. each rotating member including a first lever arm articulatedly connected by one of the spindle journals to the press key for swinging about a horizontal middle position and a second lever arm articulatedly connected to the operating rod for swinging about a vertical middle position.
 4. An electric switch comprising: a. a housing having a bar form, b. a press key having a strip form which protrudes partially from the housing and is mounted for upward and downward movement within the housing, c. said key extending approximately over the length of the housing, d. a press switch mounted in the housing, e. an operating rod being disposed beside the press key for displaceable movement along the longitudinal axis of the rod, and f. rotating members acting as bell-crank levers mounted in the housing to convert the movement of the press key into a movement direction of the operating rod tranverse thereto.
 5. An electric switch comprising: a. a partially exposed press key means mounted for upward and downward movement within a housing, b. a press switch mounted within the housing, c. a switch operating means displaceably mounted within the housing to operate the press switch, and d. connecting means for connecting the press key means to the switch operating means and being effective to displace the switch operating means when the press key means is moved upwardly and downwardly.
 6. An electric switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the switch operating means includes an operating rod and the connecting means includes a rotating member that is connected at one location to the operating rod and at another location to the press key means.
 7. An electric switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the press key means includes an elongated strip form element extending along the length of the housing. 